I had previously used a Wacom Intuos3 and then last year invested in the Graphire Wireless tablet.  Both of them were the 6×8 size.  While frankly this is great for the mouse, I found using the pen with a 24″ monitor was a little challenging for me. I really wanted to let it fly and more often than not I ran out of real estate.  The Graphire Wireless had other deficiences as well—the main one being that the bluetooth constantly disconnected even though it was 2 feet away from the laptop. Not sure if this is a common problem, but it happened often enough to make it annoying.

When the Wacom Intuos4 Large Pen Tablet
was announced, I calmly rationalized to myself why it would be a “smart” decision to upgrade. Even though the Graphire was less than a year old.

Well, I’m here to say that I am very pleased with the new Wacom Intuos4 and to give myself the added bonus—I opted for the “large” size.

And large it is. Mainly due to the mini-led display on the left (or right as it is changeable) that takes up a bit of room, but this thing really provides a nice drawing space.  Frankly, with the 6×8 I felt it was really more of a mouse pad, but with this – the tablet takes center stage.
Everything about it feels better than the Intuos3 and the Graphire.  It is well-constructed, nicely packed, beautifully designed. The Grip Pen has a weightier feel and the stand acts a a nib holder so you can change them out when you want rather than hunt in your desk.  It has also been updated with new Tip Sensor technology that allows near-zero grams of starting pressure and delivers 2,048 levels of pressure (double the 1,024 levels of the previous generation), giving you smoother, more precise strokes.

The hotkeys and scroll pad are nicely implemented, although my keys look a bit haphazardly placed in.  Not sure if that is normal or not.  It does take some getting used to having it there as old habits die hard and I tend to stick with my left-handed key shortcuts.

It also comes with a nice selection of software that is actually useful in its own right.  I actually like Corel Sketchpad more than Painter for some reason.  It’s just nice and simple and stripped of anything that gets in the way.

The only negative I’ve really found is that the mouse sometimes takes a harder ‘click’ to register on the Mac for some reason.  The clicking sound is very responsive but it sometimes clicks when the mouse doesn’t actually send the left click.  Again, no idea if this is just mine or a feature or a defect (hardware or software).

So this one gets a ‘thumbs up’.  It’s more than just a name change and version increase.  I would highly recommend it as an upgrade to an old tablet.  But… if you are a strict mouse user, then it definitely won’t wow you as much and frankly you’ll be wasting its best qualities.

The Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System is everything that those other guys aren’t in my book – worthy of a place on my counter. I was a bit wary at first to invest in another coffee maker that didn’t allow me to use my beloved Starbucks beans in (well, you can technically but I usually don’t.)  Previously I had one of those pod brewers and was not impressed.  I like my coffee strong and those teensy little pods just didn’t cut it. So after my espresso machine started requiring more maintenance than my car I dove into the Keurig.

At first I was disappointed.  The samples that came with the machine produced lackluster coffee.  But I tried different brands and sure enough – the ones marked DANGER Extra Bold (okay I added the “danger” part) actually produce a pretty full-bodied cup of brew.  Enough to stand up to whatever sissified stuff I put into it.

Then I discovered the Green Mountain brand of K-Cups at Target and was hooked.  Finally, a cup of coffee that made me stand up and salute.

This little machine may not be everyone’s style or price range, but if you work in a small office or studio with many people having different tastes it will fit right in.

And for those that like it the old-fashioned way…

I must say I am a bit of a snob and really prefer coffee that comes from an old French Press.  Most real coffee people will tell you this is the only way to do it right.  Well, when you feel like spending a little more time pressing it French-style then just pull out the bottom, grind your beans coarsely, pull any pods out, let the water run in (at precisely 192 degrees) and let it steep.  Easy.

Recommended K-Cups (smoky, dark, rich ones I’ve loved)